Improvement in horseshoes



W. L. EDWARDS.

Improvement in Horse Shoes.

N0. 123,007. PatentadJan.23,1872.

Witnesses: I entor AM rwnra-umamAFn/c co m x 0:: "w l P305553 UNITEDSTATEs PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM L. EDWARDS, OF ELLISON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSESHOES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. EDWARDS, of Ellison,in the county ofWarren and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Horseshoe; and

. do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereonmaking a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof a horse shoe for spreading a contracted hoof, or a hoof-bound foot,as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which-Figure 1 is a bottom view 5 Fig. 2, a side view; Fig. 3, a partial frontview; and Fig. 4 is a rear view of the shoe;

My horseshoe is made in two equal parts, AA, hinged or pivoted togetherat the toe by a lap-joint, a, as shown in Fig. 3. The two parts A A arefurther connected together and pressed outward by means of a spring, B,which is bent in the middle, and the ends firmly riveted or otherwisesecured to the heel ends of the shoe, as shown by dotted lines inFig. 1. This spring in forcing the sides of the shoe outward expands thehoof, and as an auxiliary for this purpose the calks O O at the heel arebeveled on the bottom inward. On the under side of the shoe is placed ametal plate, D, secured by means of set-screws b b, which pass throughslots in the plate. When the shoe is first put on these set-screws areloose so as to enable the shoe to spread and expand the hoof, and assoon as the hoof is expanded enough the set-screws are tightened,whereby the plate is caused to hold the shoe in any desired position. Inthe rear edge of the plate D is a number of holes for the purpose ofattaching a leather apron, E, which passes around the heel of the shoe,the calks passing through holes in the same. The upper or loose end ofthe apron E is tied around the ankle, thus covering the heel and keepingout the dirt.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A horseshoe made in two parts, A A, hinged or joined together at thetoe, and provided with a spring, B, bent in the center, and the endsattached to the sides of the shoe at the heel, substantially as and forthe purposes herein set forth. a

2. The combination of the horseshoe A A, spring B, beveled heel-calks OO, slotted plate D, set-screws b b, and apron E, all constructed andarranged substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this1st day of November, 1871.

WM. L. EDXVARDS.

WVitnesses DAVE) WoRnEN, H. W. ALLEN.

